Over the past few decades, extensive research has focused on modifying wood using polyester reagents. Given current environmental challenges, utilizing more local wood species to meet industrial demands has become essential. However, most local (European) wood species require additional protection due to their lack of natural durability once harvested. Concurrently, the food additives industry has developed ferment-based polyols as sugar substitutes, leading to the availability of numerous alternative candidates for wood modification. Although treatments using citric acid, glycerol, and sorbitol are well-studied, the advent of bio-based polyols and polyacids has expanded the range of potential reagents significantly.
In this study, we examined a new set of polyols in combination with citric acid to evaluate the efficacy of these treatments. Our objective was to develop balanced wood modification techniques that enhance durability without compromising other properties. Previous research has shown that the high-temperature curing process required for polyester treatments can negatively impact the mechanical properties, particularly the toughness, of the wood. Therefore, our investigation had several aims: to assess the feasibility of using alternative polyols while maintaining the properties of traditional options, to evaluate the impact of these alternative treatments on critical properties, and to compile comprehensive data on the new properties conferred by these treatments.
Keywords: Wood treatment, polyesters
Authors
Adèle Chabert
Wood Biology and Wood Products, Georg-August Universität, Göttingen
Holger Militz
Wood Biology and Wood Products, Georg-August Universität, Göttingen
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